Top Five Lessons from “Bamboozled by Jesus”

A fun, witty and encouraging read to get you making moves.

I first found out about Yvonne Orji through the hit TV show “Insecure.” I enjoyed watching her character, Molly, the confident and fashionable Lawyer.

It was only recently that I came to know Yvonne has a deep passion for her faith. The book “Bamboozled by Jesus,” was gifted to me by a relative. I loved reading this book. It was fun and informative.

There are a couple of life lessons one can gain from the book and I would like to share below.

Don’t Doubt God’s Time to Make Things Happen

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Yvonne was already in her thirties when she got cast to play the hit role of Molly in “Insecure.”

In her book, she states that “I was twenty-five years old when I started from the bottom in entertainment. Various members of my family tried to convince me that I’d missed my window of opportunity. They loved reminding me that most people usually started when they were teenagers.”

Though Yvonne had a “late” start in Hollywood, she still turned out to be a successful actress. Often in life, we second-guess our calling and purpose because it doesn’t happen in our timeline.

However, whatever is meant to happen will happen if you do not give up on your dreams. It sounds cliché but Yvonne’s story is a testament to that truth.

She said, “I knew I was older, but I also knew I had a promise from Jesus, and by the grace of God, I am what I am, and I make it do what it does.”

Your Gifts Are There for A Reason

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We all have different gifts and talents, but we are not all willing to bring that to the forefront. Yvonne has a Master’s in Public Health but her calling has always been comedy. In her book, she admitted that she kept running away from her path.

When she decided to try stand-up comedy while in university and got a great reaction, she knew that she had a knack for it. She wouldn’t have gotten on her path if she did not let her inner voice guide her.

The lesson is that the gifts and talents that we each possess are not just things we should ignore. It means something. It’s who we are and if we embrace ourselves more, we will find ourselves on the path that represents who we are the most.

Add Value Wherever You Find Yourself In

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Often not, we believe in a misconception that if we are not seated on the highest throne of power, then we can’t make an impact.

The reality is that no matter where you find yourself in, there is an influence that you can make. Yvonne didn’t just land in Hollywood as a successful actress.

She stated that: “I went from unpaid intern to unpaid volunteer, to full-time staff and got a writing credit.”

In her book, she adds: “Bentley promoted me because he noticed the energy that I brought into the company. I wasn’t doing shoddy work or phoning it in. I was showing up and taking ownership of every task.”

We must add value wherever we find ourselves in. By doing your very best and putting in the work, you create space for God to bless you. You create space for yourself to expand and have more opportunities.

God Makes All Things Possible

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This book is rooted in faith so of course, I will talk about God. Yvonne’s story highlights how God has been faithful to her.

It wasn’t easy for her to make it. She said there were moments when she found herself crying in an apartment, wondering when she would get there.

She had to keep believing in herself and God. She had to believe in her purpose. That all things work for her good.

In her book, she has a chapter on getting your mind right which simply means knowing that God is in control.

Yvonne says that “God wants to give you a blank disc. He’s erasing every thought that he never programmed in you and dubbing his original purpose back into you. He’s taking a Sharpie and rewriting history. Where others have called you hopeless, he has labeled you redeemed.”

Be Willing to Humble Yourself to Serve

Another great lesson that we learn from Yvonne’s book is the necessity of humility. She teaches us that it matters that we do not look down on others. Or we don’t feel too proud of ourselves.

When she worked with Issa and she knew Issa had assistants around, she was still always willing to serve.

In her book, she states that “I remind Issa through my actions, that I’m here to serve her vision. It’s not uncommon for me to roll up on her like “Gurl, you good?” Whatchyu need? Have you eaten? Want me to fix you a plate” Yes, she has assistants and reps on hand to tend to her needs, but while I’m around her, I choose to serve in this capacity, unasked and unexpected because I understand the larger exchange at play.”

Final Thoughts

Once again, I’ll add that I greatly enjoyed reading this book. It’s motivational, spiritual and the best book to encourage you to not give up on who you want to be.